*Adapted from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Adolescence can be a difficult time for both parent and child – but if your teen is feeling extremely sad, hopeless or worthless, he/she could be showing signs of a mental health problem. Mental illnesses are medical conditions, and they often first appear between the ages of 18 and 24. If they go untreated, these illnesses can lead to distress, and dangerous behaviors like substance abuse and thoughts of suicide. Some of the signs of a possible problem – as outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – are listed below.

If you are a Parent or other caregiver of a teenager, pay attention if your teen:

Is troubled by feeling:

very angry most of the time, cries a lot or overreacts to things

worthless or guilty a lot

anxious or worried a lot more than other young people

grief for a long time after a loss or death

extremely fearful-has unexplained fears or more fears than most kids

constantly concerned about physical problems or appearance

frightened that his or her mind is controlled or is out of control

Experiences big changes, for example:

does much worse in school

loses interest in things usually enjoyed

has unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits

avoids friends or family and wants to be alone all the time

daydreams too much and can’t get things done

feels life is too hard to handle or talks about suicide

hears voices that cannot be explained

Is limited by:

poor concentration – can’t make decisions

inability to sit still or focus attention

worry about being harmed, hurting others, or about doing something “bad”

the need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines dozens of times a day

racing thoughts, too fast to follow

persistent nightmares

Behaves in ways that cause problems, for-example:

uses alcohol or other drugs

eats large amounts of food and then forces vomiting, abuses laxatives, or takes enemas to avoid weight gain

THIRTEEN's Cry for Help is funded by the Estate of Marya Sielska; Members of THIRTEEN; the Irene Ritter Foundation; Judy Collins; the Leon Lowenstein Foundation; Donna and Phil Satow; and the Marion E. Kenworthy-Sarah H. Swift Foundation.